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- Written by: Susan Stout
The chamber recently canceled a popular annual event because “people were not in a position to buy tickets.” In addition, the chamber is operating on a reduced budget, which resulted in the loss of one part-time job, according to Melissa Fulton, Lakeport Regional Chamber of Commerce chief executive officer.
Members and guests were supposed to be enjoying a night of dinner and dancing Jan. 31 at “Hawaii 5000,” the Chamber’s fundraising soiree.
However, individuals apparently couldn’t afford the $145 per couple price tag and chamber officials decided it “wasn’t something that would work this year,” Fulton said Thursday.
Cancellation of the event and the potential for additional economic impacts to chamber functions will be evaluated during an upcoming retreat for the chamber’s board of directors, Fulton noted.
A primary focus of the retreat is the issue of businesses having a hard time in this economy, she stressed.
“That is our challenge, our focus,” she said, “to identify tools to help business members stay in business and grow. We see it as a priority.”
During the retreat, the board will be looking at ways to “provide (businesses) with tools to stay productive and stay in a positive position,” Fulton added.
In addition, the chamber plans to conduct a member survey to identify what the membership would like to see the chamber do, she said.
No longer hired by the city of Lakeport to be the city’s “marketing arm,” the chamber is feeling the pinch of the current economic climate. It is familiar with problems facing the businesses, said Fulton.
“I’ve had to let a part-time person go (from the chamber office),” she noted.
Explaining some of the history, Fulton stated that since about 1997 the city had hired the chamber to do marketing for Lakeport. The city paid a flat sum from the city’s general fund each year.
Facing financial challenges of its own, the city of Lakeport decided last June that it could no longer retain the services of the chamber. That meant a 20-percent budget reduction, according to the long-time chief executive officer.
The city determined marketing was one expense it could not afford at this time, interim City Manager Kevin Burke confirmed Monday when asked about the decision made for this fiscal year.
Whether or not the chamber is hired to do the marketing in the future is “up to the City Council,” said Burke. However, “marketing is not a budgeted expense” for now.
While the council continues to look at other ways to fund promotional activities, the city’s priorities are meeting payroll for staff and “bare bones operating expenses,” said Burke.
Despite the fact that funds are not available from the city, the Lakeport Chamber’s chief executive officer is optimistic that traditional events such as the Fourth of July fireworks and celebration in Lakeport will not be affected by the hardships felt locally.
A meeting of chamber officials, city staff and community club representatives is scheduled for Tuesday to look at ways to assure that the annual fireworks over Clear Lake will take place.
“We are going to be talking about how this community can make it happen,” stated Fulton, noting she has no doubt that the fireworks display will occur as planned.
In the meantime, the chamber continues to offer workshops and programs to benefit businesspeople.
Businesses are still joining the chamber even though Fulton does not have a memberships salesperson on staff.
“Other members strongly urge them to join,” Fulton said.
Membership amounts depend on the number of employees in the business or company, and a payment schedule can be arranged.
Information and membership forms are available on the Lakeport Regional Chamber of Commerce Web site, www.lakeportchamber.com.
Sue Stout is a business correspondent for Lake County News.
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- Written by: Lake County News Reports
Lt. Mike Hermann of the Clearlake Police Department said officers conducted a traffic stop at 1:40 a.m. Monday on 38-year-old Timothy George Miller for driving a vehicle with a license plate that did not belong on it.
During the course of the stop, officers smelled the strong odor of marijuana coming from the vehicle and conducted a search of the trunk where they located approximately a quarter-pound of processed marijuana, a loaded 9 millimeter handgun with a full capacity magazine, and methamphetamine along with packaging materials and a digital scale, Hermann said.
Hermann reported that officers also seized more than $1,000 in cash from Miller.
Clearlake Police called agents from the Lake County Narcotics Task Force to assist with the investigation and a search warrant was obtained and served at Miller’s Middletown home, Hermann said.
During the course of the warrant service, agents found the location to have been modified for marijuana cultivation. Hermann said that more than 100 immature marijuana plants, along with over 3 pounds of processed marijuana were seized from the location as well as 10 guns and additional items for packaging and sales.
While at the location, officer located and arrested two additional subjects, said Hermann.
Damin Anthony Pashilk, 33, of Napa originally opened the door while holding a loaded handgun upon officers' arrival. Hermann said Pashilk immediately ran back into the residence and attempted to hide the weapon which was located and seized.
Pashilk, who was wanted for parole violations in Napa, was arrested without further incident for being a felon in possession of a weapon and possession of a controlled substance – methamphetamine, Hermann said.
Kelsey Marie Saunders, 19, of Clearlake also was arrested and charged with cultivation of marijuana and possession of a controlled substance, in this case methamphetamine. Hermann said all three were transported to the Lake County Jail and housed and additional charges are pending completion of the investigation and review by the District Attorney’s Office.
Hermann said Miller initially claimed to have a medical marijuana card but was unable to provide any documentation of such. There were also no documents located during the service of the search warrant at his residence to support the statement as well.
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- Written by: Lake County News Reports
The plan will also make the county more competitive when applying for safe routes to school grant funding.
“Helping children to be safe and physically fit is a major component of this project. We are working very hard to improve the quality of life for everyone in Lake County, and the Safe Routes to School Plan helps move us towards that goal,” said Lisa Davey-Bates, executive director, Lake County/City Area Planning Council (APC).
Three workshops are planned for mid and late February. Parents, school administrators, teachers and community members are invited to attend and provide feedback about challenges that keep children from walking and biking to school.
Parents will have the chance to identify barriers and areas of concern on maps. Children are welcome, and a special children’s mapping station will be set up for them to participate in the project as well.
Three workshops will be held at:
Upper Lake High School (school cafeteria), Feb 17, 6 p.m.: Covering issues in the Upper Lake Union and Lucerne Elementary Unified School districts.
Middletown Multi-Purpose Room, Feb 24, 5:30 p.m.: Covering issues for all of the Middletown Unified School District.
Kelseyville Lions Club, 4335 Skylar Lane, Kelseyville, Feb 25, 5:30 p.m.: Covering issues for Kelseyville Unified School District.
For parents unavailable on these workshop dates, there will be an opportunity to meet with the consultant team at your school while they are conducting pedestrian safety audits of the schools in February and March. The consultant will notify your school as specific dates for the safety audits are scheduled.
In addition, parents are invited to take an online survey. The purpose of this survey is to learn from parents about their thoughts and concerns related to children traveling to school. This survey will be used to focus the plan on solving real problems facing families with schoolchildren. Parent surveys can be found on the APC website: http://www.lakeapc.org/ (see “parent survey” link on the right side of the Web page).
The State of California Safe Routes to Schools Program currently has $48.5 million available for funding school project statewide.
“Funding is available for school traffic safety projects, and having this plan in place will make us more competitive in obtaining money to build projects,” said Terri Persons, project manager for the APC. “We are eager to complete a plan that successfully addresses community concerns, so we can move to implementing projects as soon as possible.”
The APC is the Regional Transportation Planning Agency for the Lake County region. More information about the council can be found on the Web site, www.lakeapc.org/.
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- Written by: Lake County News Reports
The boy, who lived in Nice, died of his injuries on Saturday, according to a Monday report from California Highway Patrol Officer Adam Garcia.
The child had been riding his bicycle on Manzanita Avenue at Highway 20 shortly before 8 p.m. Wednesday when he was struck by a van, as Lake County News has reported.
The CHP said the boy was not wearing a helmet at the time of the collision.
The child was immediately transported to for treatment to the Children's Hospital of Oakland, where he died.
Garcia said that, out of respect for the family and because he's a juvenile, the child's name is not being released at this time.
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